What is distance education? Distance education (synonymous with online education) combines technology with textbooks and printed materials to bring course content, instructor, and students together. Imperial Valley College offers a variety of online course formats; these include online, hybrid, real-time online, and hyflex. Each one of these formats uses online education to deliver course content.

IVC Class Formats

IVC Class Formats

Traditional Online- In an online class, all course activity occurs online; there are no required real-time or on-campus meetings. All content is delivered in Canvas. Coursework does have due dates as set by the instructor but can be completed at any time before the due date according to an individual student’s schedule. Quizzes or tests may have a shortened period (usually a week’s time) during which students will need to complete them.

Real-Time Online- In a real-time online class, all course activity occurs online; there are at least some required real-time online meetings
(via Zoom) that occur on scheduled days and times. There are no required on-campus meetings. Course content can be delivered both in Canvas and synchronously in Zoom. Quizzes, tests and other coursework will still usually need to be completed outside of the online Zoom meetings by the due date set by the instructor.

Hybrid (Face-to-Face + Online)- In a hybrid class, course activity occurs both online and face-to-face on-campus; both the online and on-campus portions are required. The on-campus meetings occur on scheduled days and times. All online content is delivered in Canvas and Zoom.

Face-to-Face (On Campus)- In an on-campus class, course activity occurs face-to-face at IVC or a designated physical site. The course meetings
occur on scheduled days and times. Instructors may still use Canvas or other software products to enhance (like by posting the syllabus or hosting a discussion board) the class outside of the face-to-face meetings.

If you need Ed Tech support for any of these formats, please submit a ticket Ed Tech Team Support

Get Ready for Online Learning Canvas 101 Counseling

Online Tutoring Online Learning Tools IVC Student Resources

Distance Education Support